Dayna Stephens - Closer Than We Think

Dayna Stephens - "Whether we are talking about gender, political, racial, cultural, economic status, or oceanic divides we are all closer than we think when gaining perspective on how similar we all are instead of hyper focusing on minute differences. For this record I chose a set of songs that I felt would speak to our core in a variety of ways as conscious beings regardless of origin. When thinking of artists who could breathe life and inspiration into this journey these 3 musicians came to mind immediately.

Guitarist Emmanuel Michael is someone I met Sep 2022 as a student in my ensemble at Manhattan School of Music. He immediately struck me as a one of a kind guitarist with a very special approach to expressing emotion with a personal sense of time and harmony. His sound will delightfully consume you whole into an unforgettable cloud of mushy goodness. Kanoa Mendenhall I met teaching at Stanford Jazz Workshop and have always admired her grace and amazing reflexes while being rock solid, reliable, and uber supportive. Jongkuk Kim is a creative wizard when it comes to rhythm, color and textures. I’m absolutely in love with his spontaneity and his use of dynamics and drive especially when things get cooking. He’s a true Jedi of the drums and cymbals.

Another source of inspiration for the sound palette of this band was “The Bridge” by Sonny Rollins, my desert island record. My father bought me that record and I fell in love, recognizing the seriousness, and also sometimes playful and humorous expressions that I felt from Sonny. That level of intimacy, warmth and feeling of limitless possibilities is the source of my addiction to this music."